Mother Nature

Leaf-footed bug: True Bugs (Leptoglossus phyllopus) You can find this insect (in maine, of course,) on dead leafs, usually waist-head high. Leaf Footed bugs are part of the true bug family and are commonly known for having flattened thighs on their back legs. This does not mean that they can jump high, but is a very unique weapon. The back of the thigh, or tibia, has sharp spikes all the way up the side they use to fight other males for a female. … Read More ❯❯

(Malacosoma americanum) Eastern Tent caterpillar These caterpillars are so common in the state of Maine, they are considered a serious pest not only for agriculture farms, but are extremely unsightly in backyards. Why? Because when the eggs hatch in the spring, they group up in trees and make silk tents. From an organ in their back legs, they shoot silk in order to make an invasive nest that looks like a tent stuck up in a tree. They do this in order to … Read More ❯❯

Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica) The USA, Canada, Mexico and other countries have a really bad problem with the Japanese beetle. Around the early 1900’s, a ship that was coming from Japan and going to New Jersey had the beetles in a package. The beetles established home then spread out of the state. Now, as for why they are pests, they are like rabbits of the insect world. They are always mating and constantly eating litteraly everything they see that is a plant. For … Read More ❯❯

Arrow Shaped Micrathena Spider (Micrathena sagitatta) *Abdomen = butt, Thorax = middle section, Cephlathorax = head and thorax.* This insect is uncommon to find in the state of Maine. Like all other female Micrathena spiders, this one gets the pretty looks. As you can see, this species of spider has an arrow shaped abdomen. These spikes are just for looks and detering would-be predators to the spider. (No, the spikes are not poisonous but I do not recommend touching them.) There is also … Read More ❯❯

Two Striped Grasshopper: ORTHOPTERA (melanoplus bivattatus) This insect is a common insect of the state of Maine, and is wideley considered a pest in agriculture communities.This is because they eat alfalfa, corn, lentil, barley, wheat and other plants such as grass, or golden rod leaves or some times day lily leaves at ALL stages of life (Nymph hood, and adult hood). In large numbers, these grasshoppers can eat so much, they leave scars on farm land. In some cases, farms have been know … Read More ❯❯

Sitting on the porch the evening of June 30th 2018 we viewed a strange and beautiful sight. Lightning without a BANG! So we began to video this event. Then we explored for more facts on lightning. We hope you enjoy this video as much as we did that evening and the information. Lightning Types Lightning strikes the ground, the air, or inside clouds. There are roughly 5 to 10 times as many cloud flashes as there are cloud-to-ground flashes. There are two types … Read More ❯❯